Intel has delayed plans to release a new TV chip for creating low-cost High-Density TV (HDTV) sets. Work had been going apace on the chip through January with the company stating that the technology would, “…change large-screen television economics.”

The system Intel was developing is based on Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) display technology which basically creates a mirror controlled by transistors. Also dubbed a “light engine” the system consists of a liquid crystal layer which is placed on a highly reflective substrate thereby creating a projection system that can be scaled up for large screen TVs.

The reasons for Intel's decision were not made very clear other than suggesting the picture quality they were achieving wasn't meeting the standards they were expecting. The move confirms fears analysts and competing companies have had about the LCOS technology not being ready for commercial use. The way now seems clear for others with competing Digital Light Processors.

MATTHEW'S OPINION
I think Intel has enough worries in the computer chip market to warrant turning its attentions away from branching out. With AMD beating down the door in the 64-bit department and manufacturing of top-end Pentium 4 processors not going too well, Intel has a lot to be worried about.

Intel has experienced similar woes in the mobile phone chip market and I am not sure what their future strategy is there. The move to break into other markets is a sound one but Intel's core market has always been computer processors and I can't see that changing anytime soon. Refocusing on that market now seems to be key, with management urging employees to work harder and side projects such as these probably getting sidelined or dropped.

Many people have enjoyed AMD taking chunks out of Intel to compete with them in the processor market and the consumer has benefited. What we don't need to see is Intel starting to fade as this would not benefit anyone. Intel is a massive company and I doubt their run of bad fortune will continue indefinitely. I just think 2004 is going to be a year they would rather forget.

While I can see your reasoning behind believing that INTEL is focusing more effort back to processors to not lose its marketshare and “percieved-superiority”, I feel like this is an excuse and not the actual reason.

Seems to me this is the typical, “having problems perfected a new technology, blame an unrelated cause”. I see this every day from Halflife2 being delayed over a year because of a hacker, to the RIAA claiming high prices due to piracy. They CANNOT be correlated and as such are just marketing excuses for why the product is not available when originally planned. – by 7Enigma

One more thing….(8:12am EST Tue Aug 17 2004)With a company that has more money than God I would think diversifying now is the BEST strategy. Intel should realize that they have a relatively competition-free product line if they can perfect this new tech. They have realized over the past 5-10 years that their margins are ever decreasing due to competition and should look for more avenues to fund their research (READ: line their pockets ) )– by 7Enigma

This sounds..(9:41am EST Tue Aug 17 2004)Just like intel! Delay stuff and then release a substandard product for $800. – by zackwp

“…change large-screen television economics.”(12:18pm EST Tue Aug 17 2004)Read: put a big margin back in big screensIntel is in trouble for the same reason MS is in trouble. During the late '80s, marketing and legal business became the mission. Steal and gouge markets. Now there is competition. Something they've been able to do without for years with theft and breaking the law. The best possible road map is to give all your money to yourself (dividends) and file bancruptcy (quit and form a new business with all the lawyers).The BEST news is that this will end the stagnation in the IT industry and good times are ahead. – by wintel hurts us all

There are other LCOS(12:26pm EST Tue Aug 17 2004)There air Tv's with LCOS out now and they will do 1080p native. That seems to be high enough quality for me. 4k+ tho. – by Evan Brom

LCOS vs. DLP(1:55pm EST Tue Aug 17 2004)Thoughts?– by Need Me A T V

hey…(4:01pm EST Tue Aug 17 2004)Has anyone heard that economic products prices go down within the years? ie) a computer in 1987 was around $1000 and today's computers, which whip the stuff out of these old machines, are just the same… except these older machines now cost $1 or less! LOL… color tv's in the 1980's were around $2000, now they are around $80 or so! HDTV will cheapen over the years anyway, so why spend millions trying to make it cheap??? – by no

re: hey(4:21pm EST Tue Aug 17 2004)Some are too impatient to wait for time to lower the price.. – by Gir